Shoe lace fastener



Sept. 6, 1932. A. M; BERGER ,5

SHOE LACE FASTENER Filed se t'f 11. 1951 INVENTOR C /ifl/ ATTCSRNEY Patented Se t- 6, 1932 UNITED STATES AUGUSTA M. BERGER, or

3 mm, vEwYonx SHOE LACE FASTENER- Application filed. September 11 This invention relates to a shoe lace fastener.

Lace shoes are the most comfortable form of foot wear as they permit of easier adjust- 8 ment in the event of changes in the size of the foot occasioned by the weather or the physical condition of the user. The lace shoe, however, has not the neat appearance of the button shoe and in many cases such as inchildren, crippled individuals and stout persons is annoying as the lacing ends frequently become untied which are annoying and may be dangerous due to the possibility of stepping on the loose ends or. catching them in some obstruction.

One of the objects of this lnvention is to provide means that are'easily manipulated and neat in appearance to securely hold the free ends of a shoe lace. A further object of this invention is to provide means for holding the loose ends of the bow knot to prevent it from becoming united.

A still. further object of the invention is to provide a device that will increase the neatness in appearance of a laced shoe.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a view in elevation of a device embodying the principles of my invention showing the same attached to a shoe.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of a device embodying the principles of my invention in an open view.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of Figure 2 along the line 3, 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure v4 is a plan view of a modified form of device.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of Figure 4 along the line 5, 5.

Various attempts have been made in connection with lace'shoes for a device to securely hold the loose ends of the shoe laces. Such a device must be small and capable of automatic adjustment to provide for the varying thickness of the loose ends. In addition, it must be easily manipulated.

In carrying out my invention, I propose to provide a device which is at the same time small, easily manipulated, of neat appearance and one which will satisfactorily and 1931. Serial No. 562,363.

securely hold the loose ends of the shoe laces. The device'isformed out of sheet metal having. a body portion l-which may be circular, oval or any desired shape having two in tegral loops or hooks 2 oppositely positioned with respect to body portion 1. l

Although I have shown members 2 in the form of'hooks, one of said members might'be closed about yielding member 3 if desired, but I preferably prefer members 2 as shown as it permits of replacement of yielding mem-' her 3 inthe event of wear. Body portion 1 may be secured to the shoe in any well known manner such asfby an eyelet passing through central opening 4, the heads of the eyelet 05 hearing against body portion 1 surrounding opening 4 and the inside of the shoe. That is, the eyelet is compressed to hold body portion'l against the shoe upper 6 adj acentthe top thereof. Other well known forms of fastening mightbe used such as metallic prongs integral withbody portion lwhich may be pushed through "the leather and then upset or bent over to secure same tothe shoe upper 6. ielding-member 3 is preferably formed of rubber with a covering of the same color as the shoe. This covering may be silk or cotton or other material woven in such a fashion as to permlt of the extension and contraction of' the rubber body. Various substitutes for the yielding member 3 might be used and still fall within the scope of my invention. For instance, in Figures 4 and 5, I have shown a cylindrical spring 8 I secured to bar 5. Bar 5 is adapted to engage with hook 2 and permits of easier engagement and removal as well as: a more secure method of fastening than a circular coiled spring.

In the modified'form, I propose to coat with enamel or other material, spring 3, of the same color as the shoe on which it is placed. The operation of the device isas follows:

The wearer of the shoe laces the shoe in the normal manner, ties the usual bow knot, places the ends 7 thereof between members 2, 2, across body portion 1 with one hand and with the other snaps yielding member 3 over the shoe lace ends into members 2, 2. To untie the shoe the wearer slips yielding member 3 from either member 2, 2, and removes the ends of the shoe laces from between members 2, 2, and then unties the laces. Members 2, 2, are sufficiently contracted to retain yielding member 3 from falling and of engagement therewith and to prevent the disengagement of member 3 from one of the members'2 when the shoes are not in use. Body portion 1 is therefore made of a resilient material to permit of members 2, 2 functioning both-as retaining members for yielding member 3 and as latches to maintain member 3 in engage-' ment therewith.

What I claim is:

1.. A shoe lace fastener comprising a metallic body portion of resilient material, means for securing the body portion to the shoe upper, said body portion having two curved members integral therewith, a yielding member adapted to be removably secured within said two curved members to compress between said yielding member and said body portion the loose ends of the shoe laces.

2. A shoe lace fastener comprising a resilient metallic body portion having two curved members integral therewith and forming hooks, a yielding member adapted to be engaged by said hooks to retain the loose ends of a shoe lace between the yielding member and the body portion when said yielding member is in engagement with said hooks, the opening of said hooks being slightly less than the diameter of the yielding member to prevent accidental removal of the yielding member from the hooks.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this fifteenth ay of July A. D. 1931.

AUGUSTA M. BERGER. 

